Iâve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapidâa critique often rooted in misogynyâbut now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretationâpreconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your imageâselfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that thereâs another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. Itâs refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, Iâve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentionalâsomething that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. Iâve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? Itâs a question worth considering.
